HISTORY

Switzerland (in french : « Suisse » and « Confédération Helvétique » - CH) came into being on August 1st 1291 through the signing of a « Perpetual Alliance » between three cantons : Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald in a moutainside meadow called the Grütli. They swore to unite in order to free themselves from the Habsburg yoke.

The national hero, William Tell, according to the legend refused to recognize the authority of the Habsburgs over the region. Arrested, he was sentenced to pierce with an arrow an apple placed on his son’ s head. A confirmed marksman, he emerged victorious from the trial.

Other towns and regions joined the 3 « primitive » cantons. Today the country is made up of 26 cantons, with Berne the capital.

GEOGRAPHY

Set in the Alps, with summits of 4000 m, Canton Valais is at the crossroads of the main mountain passes linking Switzerland to Italy and France. So it is at the same time a mountainous, commercial and touristic region.

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Switzerland is a confederation – that is, an association of sovereign States (the cantons) delegating certain tasks to a common organism (the Confederation). Thus each canton has its own legislation, form of government and tribunals.

DAY NURSERIES & DAY-CARE CENTERS

A service called « coordination de la petite enfance » (027/721.26.87) places children 0-12 years in the « communal » (= local) day nurseries and day-care centers.

SCHOOLS

Schooling is obligatory for all children 6-15 (9 years’ schooling). The school year begins end of August and finishes end of June ; it includes various days off and holidays throughout the year. A timetable is given to all pupils at the beginning of term.

Address

Every person taking up residence in the Commune has to register with the C.d.h. within 14 days.

Aliens arriving in Switzerland with a view to working must register with the B.d.é. before starting their job, for which they require a work permit.
This is issued by the Etat du Valais (= State offices), the decision being made by the Service cantonal des étrangers and the Service cantonal du travail.

Any change in status – marital, name, employer – or change of domicile, has to be reported to the C.d.h.

As each Swiss Commune is independent, it is necessary, upon change of Commune, to register with your new Commune.

permit L

temporary (valid according to the duration of your work contract)

permit B

authorization to reside

permit C

permission to reside permanently (« permis d’établissement »)

permit G

permission to commute to Switzerland to work (« permis frontalier »)

permit N /F

permit for refugees.

Permits L and B are taxed at the source (deductible from salary and payable by the employer).
For EU nationals and members of the AELE, Permits B,C and G are generally valid 5 years.
For other aliens, Permit B is valid 1 year and C, 3 years. Permit G (commuters) does not exist for them.

ELECTRICITY – HEATING – NETWORK LINK

When taking up domicile in Martigny, you have to register with « Synergy Martigny SA » for the payment of your eletricity bill and, if you wish, for being linked to the radio and television networks, also the internet.

Address

Sinergy SA
Rue du Simplon 4 B
Tél : 027/564.25.00

Billag

Every household possessing a radio and/or a television set must pay dues to Billag.

You may rent your apartment from an individual or an agency (« régie immobilière »)

It is important to make an initial survey (called « un état des lieux d’entrée ») , an agreement signed by you and the proprietor or agency. This will save you trouble when you leave the apartment.

The duration of a lease for rented accomodation is normally one year, renewable by tacit agreement.

More and more frequently, a rent guarantee deposit is required. It can be paid by bank transfer or by warranty. The sum required is the equivalent, maximum, of 3 months rent and remains blocked until the lease is terminated.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM

The two main Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, are roughly evenly represented, but religious freedom is guaranteed.

Equality of the sexes is written into the Swiss Constitution, and children’s rights are recognized and respected, e.g. it is prohibited to force children to work, to mistreat them ; choice of spouse is free, likewise of trade, of religion, of political party, etc.

Thus a fine may be imposed, even a prison sentence, for acts of a racist or sexist nature or reflecting a rejection of a group, a minority.

LOCAL CUSTOMS

With a Catholic majority, the Valais honors Catholic feast-days as public holidays and Sundays, as days of rest, favorable for family lunches or strolls. So kindly avoid making a noise that would upset the neighbors on those days.

Disturbance of the peace at night is also unwelcome. No noise please after 10 p.m.
If you are going to receive guests, kindly inform your next-door neighbors a few days beforehand.

Also, see that you keep clean all the common parts of the building at your disposal.

Some rules

Everybody wishing to drive a motor vehicle must possess a driving license.

A learner’s license conveys the right to drive with a driving instructor, or accompanied by a person possessing a driving license for more than 3 years and aged minimum 23.

In Switzerland, the speed limit is 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h on cantonal roads (blue roadsign) and 120 km/h on the freeways (motorways) (green roadsign).

Safety belts are obligatory for all passengers. Children under 7 have to be strapped into a special baby-seat at the back of the vehicle, in accordance with safety standards. (Info : bureau TCS at the Tourist Office).

For « two-wheelers », including moped riders, a helmet is obligatory.

The alcohol level in the blood must not be beyond 0,5% (1 glass).

Vehicles unable to circulate at 80 km/h are banned from the freeways. On these roads, it is forbidden to hitch-hike and to drive along with studded tires. Should you run out of gas, you face a fine.

Driving license

From 14 years upwards : mopeds and farm vehicles up to 30 km/h

From 16 years upwards : motor cycles up to 50 cm3

From 18 years upwards : all other types of vehicle.

A learner’s license is valid for 2 years at most and can only be obtained after a first aid course and enrolment in a driving school (« auto-école »).

During the first year after arrival in Switzerland, a foreign license remains valid, except for professional runs.

Importing a vehicle

When you bring your own vehicle from your former domicile or from an inheritance, you have to undergo a technical control and present the result to the authorities : the « Service cantonal de la circulation routière ».

For a whole year after registration, the vehicle may neither be sold nor passed on to another person.

For the technical control you have to provide the experts’report (« rapport d’expertise » issued by the Service cantonal) and the anti-pollution certificate (issued by a garage).

Commission for the integration of foreignersCommune of Martigny
Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville 1
1920 Martigny

Help for migrant familiesLink between school and migrant families, support, company and building up of responsibility of parents in their process of integration.
Marie-Antoinette Olesen
Phone: 079 794 89 35

Education on the street: social worker outdoorsInterface between adolescents and adults, between adolescents and public authorities.
Facility for parents, educational support for families.
Matthieu Moulin
Phone: 079 238 89 60

Integration for everybody (IPT):Cultivate the integration and professional reintroduction for people with physically or mentally constrained health
Rue de l’Hôtel-de-Ville 14
1920 Martigny
Phone: 027 327 62 30

Sports clubs and local associationsParticipating more, playing, discovering and amusing oneself with varied physical activities offered by the sports clubs of Martigny, Martigny-combe and Charrat.
Children and adolescents from 8 to 16 years
Commune of Martigny
Commission for sports and leisure
Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville 1
1920 Martigny
email: info@participezplus.ch

Projects for Integration

French courses and civic duties for foreingers:
Free lessons from Monday to Friday: terms from September to December and from February to June.
Levels: Alphabetisation I and II, beginner I and II, intermediate, average and advanced.
In the morning from 9 AM to 10:30 AM in the Maison de la Musique and in the evening from 7 PM to 8:30 PM at the Cycle Sainte-Marie.

Several different communities, associations of foreigners, the neighbourhoods and the Swiss citizens organise dinner evenings in order to have their cultures discovered, to promote cultural exchange and to live it. A convivial exchange with discoveries of local and foreign cultures are offered around a dinner every last Friday in a month.

Contact: Delegate for the integration.
Informations: 027 721 22 59

Mexican evening

Polish evening

Project “Understanding School”

An integrative establishment for pupils’ parents in Martigny. An integration course to facilitate the better comprehension of the school system and to help parents to get more involved in their children’s school career.

Contact: Marie-Antoinette Olesen (079 794 89 35)

Informatics studio

Free course in informatics for migrants of the region Martigny and surroundings.

From September to June, every Wednesday from 2 PM to 4 PM and from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Cycle Sainte Jeanne-Antide in Martigny.

International culture groupe Martigny (CGI):Non-political and non-religious associations uniting members from various countries.
Communication and exchange location with different ethnic groups in a very convivial space.
Its goal is to unify the forces for permanent actions in the area of human relations and culture and to facilitate the exchanges between Switzerland and the rest of the world.
Chairwoman: Adeline Tornay
Rue des Alpes 1
1920 Martigny
Mobile: 078 852 76 40
Email: adelinetornay@hotmail.com

Group “Hyphen”This multicultural group consisting of seven people of different cultures and horizons offers you a programming “World music” in line with the “Petites Fugues”.
The goal of the “Hyphen” is to promote the encounter between Swiss and immigrants, support the work for integration of foreigners in an optimal space for intercultural exchange.
Centre de Loisirs et Culture des Vorziers
Les Vorziers 2
1920 Martigny
Phone: 027 722 79 78
Fax: 027 722 79 77http://www.petitesfugues.ch/
Inscription per email to info@clcm.ch